Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh Kelley have built a nurturing family alongside their work in the entertainment industry. The couple, who married in December 2007 after meeting on the set of Kelley’s music video for “Only You,” are the proud parents of three children: daughters Nancy Leigh “Naleigh” Mi-Eun, and Adalaide Marie Hope, as well as son Joshua Bishop Kelley Jr.
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Their journey into parenthood began in September 2009, when they welcomed Naleigh via adoption from South Korea. Born with a congenital heart defect, Naleigh underwent open-heart surgery shortly before Heigl and Kelley brought her into their lives. Heigl had long envisioned adoption as a part of her family plan, inspired in part by her own sister, who is Korean and was also adopted. “Josh and I started talking about [adoption] before we were even engaged,” Heigl revealed in a past interview.
Naleigh is now 16 years old and is entering her teenage years. Heigl has described her daughter as one of two classmates without a mobile phone, expressing her concerns over social media’s impact on young people. Despite their occasional disagreements—Naleigh is known to sneak the iPad for TikTok videos—Heigl’s affection for her daughter shines as she reflects on their relationship. On Naleigh’s 13th birthday, Heigl shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, celebrating the profound joy her daughter has brought to her life.
In the years that followed Naleigh’s adoption, Heigl and Kelley welcomed their second daughter, Adalaide, in 2012, again through adoption. Heigl has shared the process of adopting Adalaide was serendipitous, revealing that they had originally planned to adopt internationally. However, upon receiving a phone call about Adalaide just as they were beginning to explore domestic options, their path became clear.
Adalaide, now 13 years old, has begun to express curiosity about her origins. Heigl has reassured her daughters that while they may not have comprehensive information about their biological families, their own story is unique and valuable. Characterised by a vibrant personality, Adalaide has shown interests in barrel racing and enjoys making her elder sister laugh. Heigl poignantly captured the essence of her daughter in a birthday tribute, describing her as “beautiful, fiery, and witty.”
The couple expanded their family once more in December 2016 with the birth of their son, Joshua. Heigl has been candid about the surprise of having a biological child alongside their adopted daughters, expressing relief at the arrival of a son as it alleviated her worries about navigating the dynamics of raising three girls. She refers to Joshua as a boy with a lively spirit, once revealing his childlike obsession with characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk.
Despite their busy schedules, Heigl makes a concerted effort to incorporate family in her work life, occasionally bringing her children to set. Recently, Joshua joined her while she filmed the second season of her Netflix series, “Firefly Lane.” The young boy was keen to engage with the experience, playfully donning a director’s headset, leading his mother to jokingly suggest he might be a “future director.”
Heigl and Kelley’s life together has been primarily anchored in Utah since 2010, where they enjoy a quieter lifestyle on a ranch. Reflecting on their choice to raise their children outside of the industry glamour, Heigl emphasised the importance of family time and the value of a grounded environment. “Our time is centred around being home and being together. I think we just appreciate the quietness of this lifestyle,” she noted in a past interview, illustrating the simplicity that she cherishes in her family’s day-to-day life.
As they continue to navigate parenthood and the challenges and blessings it brings, Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley remain dedicated to giving their children a wholesome upbringing. With three unique personalities within their family unit, the couple strives to maintain a loving and supportive atmosphere as their children grow and develop their own identities.